The Truly Formidable Ones

"Hey, Qin Chuan, don't be impulsive," someone nearby advised. "Zhou Heng doesn't know his own strength; why are you fighting him?"

Qin Wangchuan didn't turn around, only saying, "It's nothing."

He then put down what he was holding and began rolling up his sleeves.

These hands have distinct joints and well-proportioned lines.

He wasn't particularly strong, but he wasn't the delicate, slender type often associated with scholars either.

Compared to the rock-like muscles opposite, they looked like two bamboo poles.

His gaze fell on Zhou Heng, scanning him from head to toe.

Broad shoulders and bulging arm muscles.

Keep your waist and abdomen tight, and your legs firmly planted.

This physique wasn't something I was born with; it was forged through hard work and perseverance day after day.

Stand firm and be solid.

Add to that an air of confident arrogance.

They might not be able to compare in terms of strength.

However, the other party's weaknesses are also obvious.

Zhou Heng's thoughts were written all over his face—his eyes shone with eager anticipation, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up, and there was even a hint of eagerness to see him make a fool of himself.

It's so easy to understand.

"Did I hear that right?" Zhou Heng was taken aback, then couldn't help but smile. "It makes it sound like I'm bullying you. Do you need me to get you a weapon?"

"No need," Qin Wangchuan replied decisively.

Zhou Heng didn't say anything more. He quickly rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, revealing his two strong forearms, and strode forward.

He stopped opposite Qin Wangchuan.

Lower your waist and abdomen, raise your hands, and slowly get into position.

"I'm ready."

Qin Wangchuan did not rush to make a move, but instead focused his gaze on Zhou Heng's stance.

He had never seriously studied physical techniques while in the Immortal Court, and the combat experience he had accumulated was of little use now.

After all, those battles in the past were all based on Dragon Scale, Dragon Scale, and Immortal Bone.

No need to think about anything, just throw a punch.

In other words, it relies on overwhelming numerical superiority.

But that's not possible now.

Once the numerical values are gone, it's time to start learning techniques.

So he struck the exact same pose as Zhou Heng.

Zhou Heng was taken aback at first, then laughed.

He looked Qin Wangchuan up and down and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Learn from me?"

"You don't actually think you can win by copying me, do you?"

He was laughing when his expression suddenly froze.

Qin Wangchuan muttered to himself, "I see."

After he finished speaking, his actions changed.

Turn your ankle slightly.

The knee is slightly loose.

Tuck your shoulder blades in.

He sank completely.

These movements were so subtle that Zhou Heng couldn't even pinpoint exactly where he moved.

The exact same starting stance.

Something I've practiced for over ten years.

When Qin Wangchuan first presented his plan, it was full of flaws, but now that he's standing there, he can't find any weaknesses.

Zhou Heng searched again.

No.

He heard his breathing become heavier.

Impossible.

As Zhou Heng looked at it, he suddenly remembered things from his childhood.

That day, he returned from the martial arts school, ran excitedly into the yard, and hugged his father's waist. "Dad! Master praised me today, saying I have great talent and will definitely achieve great things in the future!"

The father, who was chopping wood, put down his axe upon hearing this, smiled, and patted his head. "Really? Then you'd better practice hard."

"Am I really that amazing?" Zhou Heng looked up, his eyes sparkling.

The father squatted down, looked at him, and nodded seriously. "It's not bad."

Zhou Heng was dissatisfied. "What do you mean 'not bad'? Master said it's a once-in-a-century opportunity!"

The father smiled and reached out to pinch his cheek, "A once-in-a-century talent? Have you ever seen a truly remarkable person?"

Zhou Heng nodded emphatically, "Of course I've seen you before, that's me!"

The father was taken aback, then burst out laughing, flicking his forehead. "You? You're nothing more than a frog in a well, squatting in your well looking at the sky, thinking the sky is only that big."

Zhou Heng covered his forehead, stomped his feet, and shouted, "I'm not a frog!"

The father didn't reply, but bent down, picked him up, and carried him on his shoulder, saying as he walked into the house, "You'll see when you get there."

"When the time comes, you'll just stand in front of that person, and you'll know what's going on without anyone saying a word."

"Ah--so there are such amazing people."

Zhou Heng leaned on his father's shoulder, still Qi Ingestion, and muttered under his breath, "I don't believe anyone is better than me."

His father smiled, patted his leg, and said nothing more.

I didn't understand at the time.

At that moment, he understood.

So there really are people that amazing.

A born... genius.

Zhou Heng suddenly snapped back to reality.

Only then did he realize that Qin Wangchuan had been watching him the whole time.

I don't know how long I watched it.

Seeing his gaze sweep over, Qin Wangchuan finally spoke:

"I'm ready."

Zhou Heng's mind went blank.

I got distracted.

This person just waited like that.

Did you think you had it all figured out?

He's just a clueless idiot who's never even been in a fight.

A surge of heat rushed to the top of my head.

Zhou Heng gritted his teeth, his cheeks bulging out two sharp lines.

"No matter how steady you are on your feet, only a fight will reveal who has the real skill."

Without further thought, he took a step forward, his fist aimed straight at Qin Wangchuan's face.

Too straightforward.

That's too easy to guess.

Qin Wangchuan didn't even look at his fist; he knew where to hit just by looking at his eyes.

The boy's thoughts are all written in it.

He turned to the side, his fist grazing past his ear.

He reached out with his left hand and gripped Zhou Heng's wrist with his five fingers.

Pulled to the side by the force of the sudden surge, Zhou Heng's strength was completely wasted, and he was pulled forward by his own fist, his back completely exposed.

Before he could regain his composure...

Qin Wangchuan's right palm was already pressed down, giving it a light but firm touch.

Zhou Heng froze.

Qin Wangchuan did not exert any more force, but simply held on.

Once he had regained his footing, I released my grip and stepped back half a step.

From the start to the end, it took no more than two breaths.

The martial arts gym fell silent for a moment.

Zhou Heng stood there, looked down at his hands, then looked back at Qin Wangchuan, his lips moved, but he said nothing.

The martial arts gym fell silent for a moment.

"Holy crap..." The man who had been trying to persuade Qin Wangchuan was the first to come to his senses, his eyes wide with shock. "You've been hiding this well, kid!"

Several people gathered around, chattering amongst themselves.

"What happened just now? I saw his fist go over, and then he just fell down?"

"Borrowing Strength against them, using minimal force to deflect a great weight—you could practice your whole life and never learn that."

"That's amazing! Your dad used to scold you a lot!"

"Exactly! With skills like that, why pretend to be a scholar? He should have come to a martial arts school a long time ago!"

Qin Wangchuan simply smiled and didn't reply.

Jiang Zhuo remained motionless at the back of the crowd.

He leaned against the pillar with his arms crossed, watching the whole scene unfold from beginning to end.

Others might not know, but he did— Qin Rang had never taught Qin Wangchuan anything.

But that tap, that pull, that press—the timing, the angle, the force—were all perfect.

This is definitely not a simple coincidence.

Jiang Zhuo narrowed his eyes but said nothing.

Seeing that things were getting more and more lively, he finally put down his arm and came out, giving Qin Wangchuan a look.

Qin Wangchuan understood, picked up the word, stepped out from the crowd, and walked towards him.

It was only then that Zhou Heng finally came to his senses.

He stood there, watching Qin Wangchuan's retreating figure, his teeth grinding together.